11/19/2003 09:39:00 pm -
Reported by
Shaun Lyon

November 19, 2003 • Posted By Shaun Lyon

Two interviews with new producer Russell T. Davies, appearing in the new issue of Doctor Who Magazine and the anniversary edition of Radio Times, clear up some misconceptions and give a bit of insight into future plans. In Radio Times, Davies comments about his approach to writing the new show. "The trick is to make it more real in terms of the very first episode having genuine wonderment. I can fairly confidently predict that there will be a young female companion who will discover that she can explore time and space. If you watch Doctor Who you can take that for granted, but it's the most astonishing concept. It's really time to go back to basics on that." He says that he won't exclude historical stories: "Why exclude anything? The budget is going to be a determining factor. The 21st century is going to be the handiest place to be, because it's on our doorstep." There are copyright issues, he says, about old monsters, but "it'd be nice to bring in one or two moments of old archenemies, just because there's a great audience of dads and mums st home going, 'I remember that monster!' You wouldn't bring back Dracula without giving him fangs." But the sets won't wobble. "They won't! I shall lean against them myself, and I'm 6ft 6in. I will personally eliminate wobble." The full interview is in this week's Radio Times. Meanwhile, comments in the newest issue of Doctor Who Magazine go further. He says he feels "marvelous" about the return of the show. "And it's one hell of a responsibility. It's all a bit surreal, suddenly I've got an inbox offering me police boxes and Nimons. And to be honest, I'm busy finishing off two other projects until the New Year, so I don't think it will sink in properly till then. But every so often, in the middle of one of those jobs, I sit back and reflect on the fact that soon, in 2005, we're all going to be flying through time and space. That's just beautiful." All he says about the new Doctor is "that you will love him. That's all I'm saying for now, because it's the only things that matters. You will absolutely love being with him.... None of us is talking about a reboot, it's the same old Doctor Who. I want the Doctor, at least one companion, whose name is probably Rose Tyler. I want the TARDIS, I want it to look like a Police Box, and I want them to fly through the universe and all its history, facing death and danger and braving it out with a fast and funny fighting spirit. That's Doctor Who, isn't it?" You can read the full interview in the new issue of DWM. (Thanks to DWM, BBCi and everyone who let us know!)